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The Reading List: A Novel

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Ratings
Book
33
Narrator
17
Release Date
August 3, 2021
Duration
12 hours 47 minutes
Summary
NOW A LILLY'S LIBRARY PICK!

''The most heartfelt read...a surprising delight of a novel.''--Shondaland

An unforgettable and heartwarming debut about how a chance encounter with a list of library books helps forge an unlikely friendship between two very different people in a London suburb.

Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in Wembley, in West London after losing his beloved wife. He shops every Wednesday, goes to Temple, and worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who hides in her room reading while he spends his evenings watching nature documentaries.

Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library for the summer when she discovers a crumpled-up piece of paper in the back of To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a list of novels that she’s never heard of before. Intrigued, and a little bored with her slow job at the checkout desk, she impulsively decides to read every book on the list, one after the other. As each story gives up its magic, the books transport Aleisha from the painful realities she’s facing at home.

When Mukesh arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list…hoping that it will be a lifeline for him too. Slowly, the shared books create a connection between two lonely souls, as fiction helps them escape their grief and everyday troubles and find joy again. 
Reviews
Profile Avatar Betsy D. Aug 2023

This was an amazing book. I loved the weaving of the story lines, the moving back and forth with years and the truth of the feelings expressed by the characters. I smiled and laughed and cried.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Aug 2022

Beautiful book brought alive by phenomenal narration.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Sep 2024

The books I have been reading lately have been heavy and a little depressing. My friend recommended this book , stating it was lovely and the characters were likable. I LOVED THIS BOOK! Mukesh and Aleisha’s friendship was heartwarming and believable. Aleisha needed a parental figure she could trust, and Mukesh a daughter figure who looked forward to their conversations. This book made me ugly cry at certain parts, which I have not done in a long time. I recommend this book if you’re looking for something that reminds you there are still good people in this world, and a reminder that community is so important!

Profile Avatar Sue Lecht Jul 2024

Great read

Profile Avatar Catherine G. Jan 2024

The narration was perfect with the different voices. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and decided I would follow suit and read or reread all of the same books. I read some of them 40 years ago and some I haven’t read. New start

Profile Avatar Patricia C. Apr 2023

Enjoyed it, but nothing great

Profile Avatar Adria Sharon May 2022

Great narration. Lovely story.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Feb 2022

Small beautiful insights into the ways of humans, and how a well crafted book - like The Reading List - can help us see ourselves and our community when our own brains (or hearts) block what is right in front of us from view.

The Reading List: A Novel

The Reading List: A Novel

Author: Sara Nisha Adams
Read by: Tara Divina
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